Gerhart, John K. (John Koehler), 1907-1981

John Koehler Gerhart (1907-1981) was born in Saginaw, Michigan, and graduated from the University of Chicago in 1928 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Philosophy. After graduating from Advanced Flying School at Kelly Field, Texas, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Air Corps Reserve. He served as a flight test pilot during the 1930s, and graduated from the Air Corps Tactical School in April, 1941. Early in World War II, Gerhart was assigned to the 8th Air Force, and was among the first contingent sent to England. In June, 1943, he assumed command of the 95th Bomb Group, and later served as Commander of the 93rd Combat Bomb Wing, also stationed in England. Later in 1946, he would serve as Air Advisor to the American Delegation which drafted the Balkan and Italian Peace Treaties. After the war, he served at Headquarters, U.S. Air Force in several roles including with the Legislative and Liaison Division and the Office of the Comptroller, during which time he earned a degree from the Harvard Business School. He also served as Chief of Staff of Joint Task Force Three, which conducted the first thermonuclear tests at Eniwetok Atoll, Marshall Islands. Gerhart served as Joint Chiefs of Staff Adviser to the Planning Board of the National Security Council beginning in 1953. He would hold this post for two years before being appointed Chief of the Military Assistance Advisory Group to the United Kingdom. He later served as Commander of the 12th Air Force in Germany until returning to Headquarters, U.S. Air Force in 1957. On August 1, 1961, he was appointed by President Kennedy to be Commander-in-Chief of the North American Air Defense Command. He achieved the rank of General effective August 1, 1962. He retired from active duty on March 1, 1965. Gerhart's career decorations included the Silver Star with two oak leaf clusters, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star, Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters, French Croix de Guerre with Palm, and Belgian Croix de Guerre with Palm. He was rated a command pilot, combat, and technical observer. The General died on January 9, 1981.

John K. Gerhart was born in 1907, graduated from the University of Chicago in 1928, and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Air Corps Reserve in 1929. His first tour of duty was at Mitchel Field, New York and was followed by various assignments including several years as a flight test pilot. He joined the Eighth Air Force and in 1942 went to England. He assumed command of the 95th Bomb Group in 1943 and later was commander of the 93rd Combat Bomb Wing which flew the B-17 Flying Fortresses. He returned to Washington in 1947 where he worked in various assignments before spending a year in the United Kingdom, followed by three years as commander of the U.S. Twelfth Air Force in Germany. As a four star general, Gerhart returned to the U. S. in 1957 to become the first Deputy Chief of Staff, Plans and Programs. He remained there until 1962 when he was appointed by President John F. Kennedy to be commander-in-chief of the North American Air Defense Command (NORAD). General Gerhart retired from the Air Force in 1965 and died in January of 1981.